I have moved....

to a new blog space...

you can find it here

the photo I did not take...

I love this image! Its from a recent shoot with a lovely little family of 3. The only problem? I didn't take it!! yep! that's right! my talented sidekick strikes again! haha :) still, I shouldn't complain - it's good to have help worth taking along.What I love most is that the full story isn't obvious right away. If you look just to the right of that fantastic bit of lens flair (jealous much?!) you can just about see me taking pictures of mum and dad! Nice shot babe!

Friday Decenber 2nd: Dad's Christmas do! :)

So once a year my lovely Dad, pictured below takes us and Jus n Sean out for a meal along with my Aunty Nora. Lucky for us Dad has great taste so its always a meal to look forward too, and I really do. This year was no exception although it was quite a drive to The Swettenham Arms and I felt car sick both on the way there and on the way back which wasn't great!




I didn't take too many pics. You know how it is, classy joint - don't want to be waving your camera phone around like a loon / tourist too much ;) but I did get one of Sean with his amuse-bouche ;)

Welcome, December!

So in line with my goal to blog every day in December, here goes! better late than never right?!

Well, as usual December crept up on me in the usual sneaky fashion. I thought I at least had the important stuff covered, but, no! The evening of the last day of November saw me in the loft, hunting for Dave's advent calendar which was...at work. At least I had the chocolate to give him!

I did place this little guy on my desk though, to add a little festive cheer. I am hoping to keep it alive and decorate it through December ready to give as a gift, just for fun :)

As it was the first of December and Dave was at meetings I headed here after work for a bit of christmas shopping! Had to be done right?! ;)




And lastly after 4 or so years of having this book in my possession, this year I finally remembered to start reading it on the 1st of December!! Go me!!!!


not a bad start to the month given how far from organised I am!

white flag...er....monday!

Took these in the spring... its past time they saw the light of day!...

As promised...

... white flag wednesday :)

having beautiful friends really helps in my job! :)

WHITE FLAG WEDNESDAYS ARE BACK IN TOWN!!!!!!

... as is keeping up with this blog, getting the new website up and running and revealing some big changes around here!
Its been a tough year if I'm honest. Not that anything really terrible has happened, but I think we all have those years - the ones that just feel harder, for no apparent reason. I feel like I have learnt a lot about myself, things I am excited to change and put into practise. I love this time of year anyway, but this year I am feeling it a little more, relief to close out 2011 and dive into 2012 with at least some sense of direction. I know what I want to do with my life, the business and everything else. Now its just down to me!

and I have a TON of images to share! :)

I had wondered whether to just let the white flag wednesday concept die quietly, in the spirit of moving onto new things. But I think I'll let it live a while, except, I'm not sure I can wait until Wednesday to reveal the pics of this weeks cute couple! Maybe white flag wednesdays will just be lost in the avalanche anyway!!....

Working on the weekend...

Well, I'm always working, but I had to spend some time at the Practical office Saturday just gone. I say 'some time' as dinner time whooshed past me, the folks at home sent me this...

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This SO made me laugh today...

now get off that computer! :) just kidding!

Today's White Flag Wednesday...

.... Will be posted tomorrow or Friday! Sorry!! I know that's completely cheating but I don't feel so well. Back on track ASAP!




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White Flag Wednesdays...

I am so tired that I am really struggling to get this post down. But if I don't, it won't be Wednesday anymore and this is long overdue! I feel like for so long I have been trying to fit enough work for two lives into just one - mine. I'm usually very careful with client work - I will push myself to the absolute limits to abide by self imposed deadlines etc. but then there's another side to things. The side my friends and family see. the little extra I try to give to them because, well, they rock :) but they are the people who know they can wait forever to see me complete what I started for them. I appreciate their patience so much but its time for it to stop - I need to pull myself out of this hole!
   I made a list just less than a year ago.A list of things to do before my 30th birthday. Most of it is gonna have to be binned, but the one thing I intend to stick by is seeing each and every one of those 'friend' jobs crossed off. So, if you have received an email / message from me directing you to this blog post, then there's some cause for optimism - white flag Wednesdays are for you!! Every Weds I will preview some of these 'lost in the endless queue" shots. when you see yours, you know the job is done and they are on their way to you. There will be at least one white flag post each weds - I hope most days multiple posts.Who will it be next week??? it might be you! :)
so without any more jabber here is a mini offering to kick off White Flag Wednesdays...

Chrissie and Natasha, I will be in touch in the next few days to arrange getting these files to you! :)

a picture is worth...

enough said!!!

The view from here

I was going to post some stuff. All-sorts. But I got sick. Nothing contagious, just migraine brought on by me stressing over having to face or be reminded of the things I can't change which are really getting to me right now. But it's a long time since I had it that bad. I seem ok now but I'm already worrying about the possibility of a repeat this weekend. I geuss we'll just have to see how I handle it. Whilst I attempt to catch up, here is the view, as I lay on my back with the cats feet in my face!...

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The break through...

Some people may be wondering what happened with the diet. After 2 days of hyper enthusiastic posts... nothing. Well, one or two random unrelated images but not another word on the diet. Well, you see, the truth is...

... I actually stuck to it!! ~No, no, please don't die of shock! sit down a moment, you'll be fine! I actually found the Body Blitz plan much easier to follow than I thought I would. The book promised a weight loss of around 7 lbs in return for sticking to the plan and throwing in around 5 half hour sessions of some form of exercise (not necessarily anything too strenuous) each week for 2 weeks. Well, I almost stuck to the plan (other than the accidental honey and lemon drink, one packet of maltesers and a packet of crisps when I stayed really late at the office one night and one or two stolen pieces of potato when dave was having some), skipped the odd meal when I was too busy or not hungry (but never deliberately to starve myself), skipped a portion of the snacks (because I just didn't need them), did no specific exercise...
and lost a grand total of 7.5 lbs!!!
   It was so much fun to watch Pam, my Weight Watchers leader almost hit the deck when I stepped on the scales. Any loss would have amazed her after the last few weeks!
The observant among you may have noticed that I have only claimed 7 lbs on the chart at the top. That is because that is what I measured at home.

So, what now?? well, since that little triumph I have eaten waaaaaaaay too much chocolate! So today I am trying to rein it back in a little. I'm not after a big loss this week - a small loss or a stay the same for the next 2 will do nicely and then it will be back to another 14days on the plan to see if I can crack the stone!

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Happy Easter...

He lives! and because he does, so can I... forever... with these nuts!....

I know that my Redeemer lives;

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, He lives, who once was dead;

He lives, my ever living head.

He lives to bless me with His love,

He lives to plead for me above,

He lives my hungry soul to feed,

He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply,

He lives to guide me with His eye,

He lives to comfort me when faint,

He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,

He lives to wipe away my tears,

He lives to calm my troubled heart,

He lives, all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heav’nly friend,

He lives, and loves me to the end,

He lives, and while He lives I’ll sing,

He lives, my Prophet, Priest and King.

He lives, and grants me daily breath,

He lives, and I shall conquer death,

He lives, my mansion to prepare,

He lives, to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His name!

He lives, my Saviour, still the same;

O the sweet joy this sentence gives,

“I know that my Redeemer lives.”

So, I'm pretty sure my neighbours think I'm crazy...

and that was before they saw me with Naomi and Joe today in the front garden, cooing into the flower beds...

Oh, well!

Day two in the diet house...

I was sick today and stayed home all day in my pjs inhaling menthol and trying to breathe! so other than the diet I really have nothing else to talk about!

SO, day 2. managing better than expected so far.

I started the day with an egg and rye bread soldiers. I realised that since I NEVER eat this I don't have egg cups - untill I remembered the one I had as a kid. I didnt want to throw it away for some reason, so I stashed it in my craft cupboard, so that was fun! the egg was a bit of a disaster though - I followed the instructions and it came out practically hard boiled. Have to try that again!

For lunch I tried the 'lemony leeks, chicken and barley. It was the first time Ive tried barley like that and it came out quite nice. the chicken stock and lemon flavour meant it totally didnt taste like diet food and texture wise, it was kind of like a risotto. It was fairly filling and as it was quite late on by the time we ate it we ended up skipping dinner! Hoping I will be a size 8 by next week (hahaha) i did pinch a pit of the pork I had been cooking for dinner, but bearing in mind that was in place of a whole meal, it shouldnt cause a problem!
I had one snack - ryvita and peanut butter and drank water & diet coke all day. The only time I did slip up was the honey and lemon drink I made myself in the morning, since honey isn't allowed. I realise half way through but finished it since I was only drinking it because I am sick!
total points today: 24 out of 29

confessions of a serial dieter....

... oh yes! that's me! I have tried them all, pretty much, including the mayo clinic one where you have to have grapefruit / grapefruit juice before every meal, never mind that I HATE grapefruit! I spent about 2 weeks consuming tons of the stuff, only to be disappointed with the end result, as always! During recent years I have found that the only plan that really works for me is the Weight Watchers plan. And yet, despite knowing that is does work for me, and knowing that I really do want to finally lose this weight, I am having an insanely hard time sticking to it. I'm always either comfort eating to try and fill some emotional black hole, suffering from a cold or other sickness, or over working myself, getting no sleep and eating just to keep from dropping dead! Something has got to give and I am determined that this time it will finally be my waistline!! So enter Anna Richardson and the Body Blitz diet (as recommended by my mother-in-law).

I spent a good few weeks dragging my feet and pouting about giving up stuff like bread and potatoes before eventually setting a start date of today. I figured I should at least try it.

My starting point is 165.2kg and a total of 153.5 inches across various places....

so, Day One...

Breakfast : Pan fried bacon, mushrooms & tomatoes
lunch : the beef and horseradish sandwich but replacing the rye bread with 3 ryvitas
dinner : Prawn Balti with steamed courgette & babycorn and a little drop a dress size dressing.
Snacks : fruit with 2 tbs soya
              hard boiled egg.
Drinks : water, diet coke
no excercise as such although I had to do the shopping so there was some walking there.

I'll admit, I feel a little hungry, or maybe I'm not- maybe I am just aware that I can't have stuff. The great thing is that right now the enthusiasm to try new stuff and see some reults is keeping me going. I know that will run out at some point. I have enjoyed everything I have tried so far though, so thats good!

*edited to add: that works out at 21 points on WW and I'm supposedly allowed 29 a day!! So I should lose weight!
the egg wasn't technically on the list of snacks but with sticking to it so closely, I figured if thats what I wanted it couldnt do any harm.
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coming soon...

I have this massive list of little jobs here and there that people are waiting for. But, before I move on to that I HAD to post something from Saturday! These guys were too fab!

Naomi, if you go over, I will post a few more to pass the time! :)

on this day 21 years ago...

 

...I became an aunty.  And roughly 8 years later, I took this picture. It could be argued that this was indeed my finest moment as a photographer, back before it all started, just for the amusement that has come from this one image. To everyone except poor Matt that is! :)

so, some things you should know about this picture...

1. It is NOT, and never was a dodgy ad  for french fries! Matt IS wearing swimming trunks and the rest is, well, just unfortunate for him!

2. Matt hates this picture! no, REALLY!

3. Shortly after this holiday I gave my youngest nephew an album with one picture of each member of the family from this holiday, This is the picture I picked for Matt.

4. Matt removed the picture from the album and ripped it up. Little did he know, it was just a copy. Mwahahaha :)

5. On Matt's 18th birthday I used this picture to make Matts gift tag, and gave him his gift (a multipack of french fries) whilst he was sat with his girlfriend (now wife).

6. Although the thought did cross my mind, I haven't had this picture enlarged to a stupidly large size to display anywhere today. So Matt, you are safe untill your 30th at least! :)

7. If he has found this blog post, he has almost certainly disowned me by now so I may as-well say it quick, Happy 21st Matt! We LURVE you!!! x

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